The Peshawar Army Public School Attack: From Nightmare to Greater Darkness?

The nightmare of the Peshawar Army Public School attack in December 2014 could mark a turning point in a region plagued by war, disaster and misery – one in which the EU invests substantial amounts in development cooperation and humanitarian aid, but little political capital. The Pakistani government has responded by lifting the ban on the death penalty – moving further from the values the EU upholds. Yet the need to break Pakistan's vicious circle of endemic violence is clearer than ever – as is the need for the EU to recognise what role it can play in preventing Pakistan from slipping into further darkness.